We probably shouldn’t be shocked, but it seems fair to say that most of us were, when we heard that the beloved actor, Bruce Willis, was diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. By going public with this intensely...
ELG Estate Planning Blog
Help Paying For Medicare Costs – Medicare Savings Programs
Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program available to people 65 or older or who have certain disabilities, regardless of income or assets. It pays for health care and medical expenses, such as doctor visits and hospital stays. The two main ways to...
Understanding Medicare’s Part D Program
Medicare is a federally funded health insurance program available to people 65 or older or who have certain disabilities, regardless of income or assets. While Medicare plans pay for health care expenses, many plans do not automatically cover the cost of most...
Recognizing and Treating Geriatric Depression
Depression in older adults often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Depression is a treatable mental health problem. It is not a consequence of growing older or a symptom of old age. Recognizing Depression The Mayo Clinic shares the following symptoms of depression:...
Two Tests to Qualify for Medicaid: Medical and Asset Tests
Medicaid is a government program that provides health care coverage to eligible seniors, people with disabilities, children, and pregnant women. The program is jointly funded by the state and federal government. In Washington State Medicaid is called Apple Health....
Planning for Long-Term Care
In 2012, 9 million Americans needed Long-Term Care. By 2020 that number is expected to increase to 12 million. A 2013 study conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research revealed: "There are widespread misperceptions among those 40 or over...
Estate Planning with Asset Preservation Strategies
Estate Planning can give you the remarkable peace of mind that comes from knowing you have provided for your loved ones and made things easier for them in the event of your incapacity or death. We not only help our clients create the necessary documentation for Estate...
Talking About Your Wishes for End-of-Life Care
Talking about what we want for our end-of-life care can feel scary or overwhelming. Some people want to avoid talking about it, or even thinking about it. The vast majority of people (90%) say that talking with your loved ones about end-of-life care is important, yet...
What “Testamentary Capacity” Means
Testamentary capacity is the soundness of mind required of a "testator," a person who is executing a Will. In Washington State testamentary capacity is met when, "A person ... if at the time he [or she] assumes to execute a will he [or she] has sufficient mind and...
Coping With The Emotions of Caregiving
The National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC) and the AARP Public Policy Institute conducted a study to "present a portrait of unpaid family caregivers today." The study, Caregiving in the U.S. 2015 estimates that 39.8 million Americans care for an aging adult every...